Observations, articles, opinions etc. in Dutch and English. The author, Bert de Bruin (Yonathan Dror Bar-On), is a Dutch-Jewish historian, who has specialized in modern Jewish history and in the history of the Middle East, and who in 1995 emigrated from the Netherlands to Israel. He wrote one book (2008), and edited another (2011), both in Dutch. For feedback please post a comment, or send this blog's author an email: (hisdutchname)atyahoodotcom

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

I wonder if Zinadine Zidane will soon reveal what prompted him to butt Marco Materazzi last Sunday. Lip readers ( who must know Italian, or English, or whatever language the Italian defender used to - apparently - ensnare the French captain ) have said that Materazzi made not very complementary references to Zidane's mother and/or sister. That could explain - which is not necessarily the same as justify - Zidane's losing his temper. On Sky News I read that Materazzi called Zidane a "son of a terrorist whore". What really amazes me is the Italian's response to this allegation: "It is absolutely not true, I did not call him a terrorist." This somehow - don't ask me why - reminded me of a joke that I heard years ago:
A man who has finally made it in business treats himself to a new Lamborghini! After buying it, he feels guilty so he goes to the Orthodox Rabbi and asks for a mezuzah for the Lamborghini.
"You want a mezuzah for what?" the Rabbi asks.

"It's a Lamborghini."
"What's a Lamborghini?" asks the Rabbi.
"A sports car."
"What? That's blasphemy!" the Rabbi shouts. "You want a mezuzah for a sports car? Go to the Conservatives!"
Well, the man is disappointed, but goes to the Conservative Rabbi and asks for a mezuzah.
"You want a mezuzah for what?" the Rabbi asks.
"For my Lamborghini", the man replies.
"What's a Lamborghini?" asks the Rabbi.
"A car, a sports car."
"What kind of sports car?" asks the Rabbi.
"Italian."
"What? That is blasphemy!" the Rabbi shouts. "You want a mezuzah for a Goyishe car? Go to the Reform!"
Again, the man feels guilty and disappointed, but goes to the Reform Rabbi.
"Rabbi," he asks, "I'd like a mezuzah for my Lamborghini."
"You have a Lamborghini?" asks the Rabbi.
"You know what it is?" says the man.
"Of course! It's a fantastic Italian sports car. What's a mezuzah?"